I need to properly position the valve gear in conjunction with the crankshaft gear. The crankshaft gear is fixed in place using a notch and keyway. The valve gear is green in color and has no specific timing mark. I have the head off and can see both piston and valves. With the piston at TDC, what is the correct valve setting?

Ask Alan, April 2006

There should be timing marks. Punch marks or scribed lines on a gear tooth on both gears. If there is a ball bearing on the crankshaft covering the gear, the timing mark is on the casting of the throw. As a rule with the piston at Top Dead Center on the compression stroke, the cam lobes will be on either side of the valve tappets. So that rocking the crank clockwise off TDC begins to open the intake valve, and rocking the crank counter clockwise off TDC begins to open the exhaust valve.

Rick, April 2006